Knee and ankle brace.



E. SPAHN.

KNEE AND ANKLE BRAGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.26,1913.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

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KNEE AND ANKLE BRACE.

ovasco.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Application filed April 26, 1913. Serial No. 763,821.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Eownno SPAnN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knee and Ankle Braces, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to braces and more particularly to the class of knee and ankle Y braces.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a brace of this character wherein the leg of a person will be strengthened and supported in a manner to prevent the weakening thereof resulting from fractured ligaments or the bones of the leg.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a brace of this character in which the leg of a person will be properly braced should the leg be weakened from a fracture or the result of a disease so that the said leg will be sutliciently 'strong for use in walking, the brace being applied in a manner to obviate discomfort or annoyance to the wearer and also which will permit the free use of the leg.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a brace of this character which is simple in construction, readily and easily applied to the leg of the user, thoroughly reliable and etlicient in its purpose, and in expensive in manufacture.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed 1 out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side clevation of the leg of a person in vertical position, showing the brace constructed in accordance with the invention applied. Fig. 2 is a. similar view, showing the leg in bent position. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the brace removed from the leg. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line lie- 1 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the brace comprises a pair of side members 5 supporting at their lowerends a swinging yoke or substantially U-shaped frame 6, the limbs of which are connected to the mom here 5 by the pivots 7, while formed medi ally of the said yoke or frame (3 are oppositely extending perforated ears 8 through which are passed any suitable'fasteners for connecting the frame to the arch portion of a shoe.

The members 5 at their upper ends carry a swinging knee frame including a bowed rigid band 9 to the ends of which are fixed limbs 10 at right angles thereto, the same being) connected to the upper ends of the mem ers 5 by means of pivots 11 so that the frame and the members 5 are free to swing with relation to each other. Fixed to the limbs 10 above the points of the pivots 11 are crane-shaped arms 19 formed at their free ends with hook terminals 13 to which are connected coiled retractible springs 14 and 15respectively, while pivoted at 16 to the members 5 contiguous to the springs 15 are rocking levers 17 each bein formed at one end with an eye 18 to which is connected the spring 15wh1le pivoted at 19 to the other end of the rocking lever 17 is a trigger 20, the same being formed with an eye 21 to which is connected the spring 14, the tri ger 20 being formed with a latch'nose 22 wlhch is designed to engage a stop lug 23 formed on the rocking lever'17 so that on the bend ing of the leg of the wearer of the brace the triggers 20 will engage the lugs 23 to exert tension upon the springs 14. for the automatic straightening of the brace when the pressure is released from the foot yoke or frame 6, thereby straightening the leg, and thus in this manner materially.assisting in the working of the leg should the muscles or ligaments thereof be affected.

By the use of the springs 14 and 15 acting upon the levers 17 and the triggers 20 the members 5 and the knee frame 9 will properly adjust themselves with relation to each other and the spring pressure is applied to supply the requisite extension and countercxtension at the joint of the knee. Connected with the members 5 is a securing strap 24 which fastens the brace to the leg of the user. It is of course to be understood that this strap 24 may be supplemented by any other suitable fastening devices to properly hold the brace in position for activity when using the leg.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the device will be clearly understood, and there fore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

levers, tension springs connected with the,

extensions and the levers and triggers respectively, and stop means mounted on the rocking levers and engageable by the triggers.

2. A leg brace comprising opposed side members, a foot stirrup pivotally connected to the lower ends of the side members and adapted to be fastened to the shoe of a wearer, a frame having rigid limbs pivotally connected to the upper ends of the members and adapted to embrace the le' above the knee joint, extensions on the said limbs of the frame, rocking levers pivoted to the side members, triggers pivoted to the.

levers, tension spr ngs connected with the extensions and the levers and triggers respectively, stop means mounted on the rocking levers and engageable by the triggers, and means for fastening the brace to the leg of the wearer.

3. A leg brace comprising opposed side members, a foot stirru pivotally connected to the lower ends of t e side members and adapted to be fastened to the shoe of a wearer, a frame having rigid limbs pivotall connected to the upper ends of the members and adapted to embrace the leg above the knee joint, extensions on the said limbs of the frame, rocking levers pivoted to the side members, triggers pivoted to the levers, tension springs connected with the extensions and the levers and triggers respectively, stop means mounted on the rocking levers and engageable by the triggers, and means for fastening the brace to" the leg of the wearer, the said frame being formed with a bowed band.

In testimon whereof, I aflix my signature in presence 0 two witnesses.

CLAUDE MYERS, FRANK MsUsEK. 

